Thirteen boats saved (1833)

Fate was on the side of a number of small line fishing boats from the villages of Portlethen, Findon and Cove during December 1833. The Aberdeen Journal reported as follows: 

“Aberdeen, Dec 28. - On Thursday last, it blew a hard gale from about S. to SSW, accompanied latterly with heavy rain. At the commencement of the gale, a number of fishing boats were at sea engaged at drawing their lines to the northward of this place; those belonging to Aberdeen, being to windward of the others, pushed for and with difficulty gained the harbour. Those further to the northward, however, and in the bottom of the bay, were exposed to great danger, as the utmost efforts of the poor fishermen were inadequate for pulling their boats against the violence of the storm, and the heavy sea then running and still increasing. 

Their perilous situation having being observed, Captain McBenn, of the Tug steamer, with the most praiseworthy alacrity, pushed off five or six miles to their assistance, and succeeded in taking them in tow. Thirteen boats in number, belonging to the Cove, Findon and Portlethen, and brought them safely into Aberdeen – when, but for this timely assistance, from the exhausted state of the poor men at the oars, many of them must have yielded their lives in the unequal struggle”. 

These boats were extremely fortunate that they were relatively close to shore, and a vigilant captain with a large boat were close at hand to rescue them from their plight.